Single-piece pizza container with fold and hold mechanism

• US 6,386,441 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2001
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Paper Company
• Original Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhauser)
• Inventors: Philips, Nicholas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/770,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 229/142, 229/143, 229/148, 229/149, 229/155, 229/902, 229/906
• US Class Current: 229/143
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/366 Pizza
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6632 the lid-halves being held in closed position by flaps or tabs provided at their side edges only B65D5/6644, B65D5/6647 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6638 combined with flaps or tabs provided at the side edges of the lid-halves
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/36 for bakery products, e.g. biscuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/906 Baked goods

Abstract

Embodiments of a pizza container are described using a container blank formed from a single piece of paperboard material. The container includes a bottom panel, first and second opposing side wall panels, and first and second opposing end wall panels. Each container further includes two top cover panels that fold over onto the container and act as lids. At least one U-shaped cut is formed along a hinge line connecting a top cover panel with an end wall panel. The U-shape has a closed side and an open side. The cut is oriented with the closed side extending into either the first end wall panel or the first top cover panel. The open side is positioned along the first hinge line. As assembled, the U-shaped portion is generally perpendicular with the panel from which it was formed. Various embodiment of lock mechanisms are described as well.

Claims

1. In a container blank formed from a single piece of paperboard material, the assembled container for holding a pizza;

the blank including a generally rectangular bottom panel having four edges and a depth dimension;

first and second opposing side wall panels each hingedly connected to opposing edges of the bottom panel;

first and second opposing end wall panels hingedly connected to the remaining two opposing edges of the bottom panel;

the depth dimension of the bottom panel being measured from the opposing edges of the bottom panel connecting to the first and second end wall panels;

the height of the container as assembled being substantially less than the container depth or width;

an improvement comprising;

a first top cover panel connected to the first end wall panel along a first hinge line, the first top cover panel having a depth dimension sized less than the depth dimension of the bottom panel;

at least one U-shaped cut formed along the first hinge line, the U-shape cut forming a portion having a closed side and an open side, the cut being oriented with the closed side extending into one of the first end wall panel and the first top cover panel, the open side being positioned along the first hinge line, wherein as assembled the U-shaped portion is generally perpendicular with the panel from which it was formed; and

a second top cover panel having front and rear edges, the second top cover panel being hingedly connected at its front edge to the second end wall panel, the second cover panel having a depth dimension sized less than the depth dimension of the bottom panel.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one U-shaped cut includes at least three U-shaped cuts positioned in spaced apart relation.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one U-shaped cut is oriented with the closed side extending into the first end wall panel, and as assembled the U-shaped portion is coplanar with the first top cover panel.

4. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising a lock mechanism to maintain the first and second top cover panels in a closed position.

5. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein the lock mechanism includes first and second opposing side wall panels each having an upright slot extending in a downward direction from each side wall panel upper edge;

and wherein the second top cover panel includes first and second outer flaps hingedly connected to opposed side edges of the second top cover panel, each outer flap having a corresponding slot extending in an upward direction from a lower edge of the outer flap;

as assembled, the outer slots engage the corresponding slots in the opposing side wall panels.

6. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein the slots of the side wall panels and the corresponding slots first and second outer flaps extend approximately one half the height distance of the side wall panels and outer flaps, respectively.

7. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein as assembled, portions of the first and second top cover panels overlap.

8. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein the first and second outer flaps each include a fold line extending generally parallel to each outer flap lower edge and extending between an inner portion of the slot in the outer flap and one of the second top cover panel front and rear edges.

9. The improvement according to claim 8, wherein the fold line extends between the inner portion of the slot in the outer flap and the rear edge of the top cover panel.

10. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein the lock mechanism includes an arrangement in which the second top cover panel includes at least one tab formed in its rear edge, the tab being defined between a pair of edge slots oriented generally transverse to the rear edge, the rear edge further including top flaps located on each side of the tab;

and

wherein as assembled, the first top cover panel is positioned between the at least one tab and the top flaps of the second top cover panel, the first top cover panel passing through the edge slots of the second top cover panel, portions of the first and second top cover panels overlapping.

11. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein as assembled the tab is located above the first top cover panel and the top flaps are located below the first top cover panel.

12. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein the top flaps are shaped to angle inwardly.

13. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein the second top cover panel includes opposed side edges and first and second outer flaps hingedly connected thereto, each outer flap having a depth dimension less than the overall depth dimension of the second top cover panel.

14. The improvement according to claim 13, wherein the overall depth dimension of the second top cover panel is greater than the depth dimension of the second top cover panel top flaps.

15. The improvement according to claim 13, wherein the first top cover panel includes opposed side edges and third and fourth outer flaps hingedly connected thereto;

as assembled, the first and third outer flaps are positioned inside of the first side wall panel and the second and fourth outer flaps are positioned inside of the second side wall panel.

16. The improvement according to claim 15, wherein as assembled, the outer flaps of the first and second top cover panels do not conflict or overlap with one another.

17. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein the lock mechanism includes an arrangement in which the first top cover panel includes front and rear edges, the first top cover panel being connected at its rear edge to the first end wall panel along a first hinge line, the first top cover panel including opposed first and second side edges and side flaps hingedly connected to the opposed side edges, the first top cover panel including transverse cuts along the front edge at the hinged connection between the side flaps, the transverse cuts extending partially along the hinged connection;

wherein the second top cover panel includes side extensions along its rear edge, the second top cover panel having a width dimension between side extensions larger than the width dimension between side cuts in the first top cover panel; and

wherein as assembled, the side extensions of the second top cover panel are inserted into the transverse cuts of the first top cover panel front edge, portions of the first and second top cover panels thereby overlapping.

18. The improvement according to claim 17, wherein the side flaps and front edge of the first cover panel are both clipped at the transverse cuts to ease assembly.

19. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein the lock mechanism includes an arrangement in which a first top cover panel has front and rear edges, the first top cover panel being connected at its rear edge to the first end wall panel along the first hinge line, the first top cover panel including opposed first and second side edges and side protrusions extending along the opposed side edges near the front edge;

wherein the second top cover panel including opposed first and second side edges, a side flap being hingedly connected to each opposed side edge, the second top cover panel including slits provided along the hinged connections between the side flaps and the second top cover; and

wherein as assembled, the side flaps of the second top cover panel are inside of the first and second side wall panels, the first top cover panel is below the second top cover panel, and the side protrusions of the first top cover panel are inserted into the slits of the second top cover panel, portions of the first and second top cover panels thereby overlapping.

20. The improvement according to claim 19, wherein the slits are located along the hinge line though not colinear with the hinge line, the slits having an outwardly oriented arcuate shape.